Gap year

[deleted647690]

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Hi,
I'm coming up on my senior year, and I was thinking about what I'll be doing in my time off before med school. I had a few ideas:
NIH IRTA (I did the SIP previously, and I enjoyed working here. I realize it's a 2 year program)
Americorps
Scribing at a hospital
Peace Corps (I am considering this, but I'm not sure I like the idea of taking 3 years off (I've heard the 2 year gap often turns into 3), I feel like I would have to wait to take my mcat and end up forgetting a lot of the information)
Research elsewhere

Is there someone I should talk to about these options, or should I just do more research online? I've heard that a good time to apply for the NIH would be in December, but overall, I just want to be able to make sure I apply for things in time so that if I get rejected from one, I can still fall back on something else.
Are there any reasons why any of these would be better than others? I know that NIH has great resources and support for people applying. I also feel like Americorps/Peace Corps would offer a significantly different experience than anything I've had prior.

 

[wanderingorion]

How are you on clinical experience?

 

[deleted647690]

How are you on clinical experience?

I probably need more. I have a lot of volunteering (like 350 hours in the ED or something over summer breaks in college back to high school, but I stopped the volunteering last summer because I took classes this past winter)
I have about 100 additional shadowing hours in a trauma center.
I also have about 30 hours shadowing ED/trauma

I probably need exposure to primary care.

 

[wanderingorion]

I probably need more. I have a lot of volunteering (like 350 hours in the ED or something over summer breaks in college back to high school, but I stopped the volunteering last summer because I took classes this past winter)
I have about 100 additional shadowing hours in a trauma center.
I also have about 30 hours shadowing ED/trauma

I probably need exposure to primary care.

It sounds like you're pretty well covered in that department.
It's really just what you want to do. If you'd like to continue doing research, which could be beneficial depending on your career goals, go for it. If you'd like more clinical exposure, primary care or otherwise, there are plenty of opportunities, especially this far in advance.
Personally, I've worked as an ED scribe during my gap year, and have loved it. As long as your productive in your time out of school, I think all of it is well regarded by adcoms.

 

[deleted647690]

It sounds like you're pretty well covered in that department.
It's really just what you want to do. If you'd like to continue doing research, which could be beneficial depending on your career goals, go for it. If you'd like more clinical exposure, primary care or otherwise, there are plenty of opportunities, especially this far in advance.
Personally, I've worked as an ED scribe during my gap year, and have loved it. As long as your productive in your time out of school, I think all of it is well regarded by adcoms.

Thanks. Hm, I guess it'll be hard for me to decide. I think I'm going to worry about it later haha

 

[wanderingorion]

Thanks. Hm, I guess it'll be hard for me to decide. I think I'm going to worry about it later haha

I know it's a big decision, but I'm sure you'll figure it all out. Good luck with your senior year!

 

[deleted647690]

I know it's a big decision, but I'm sure you'll figure it all out. Good luck with your senior year!

Thank you, good luck to you as well

 

[saltypug]

Was in the same boat in college. Feel free to PM if you wanna talk more 🙂

 

[deleted647690]

Was in the same boat in college. Feel free to PM if you wanna talk more 🙂

Thanks!